As Velt and Rurhy walked toward her village after eating what Velt had prepared with the squirrels, something kept bothering him.

  —Hey, Cero —he asked in his mind—. When I transformed back into a human, my clothes were still there… and even my goblin form was clothed too.

  —That is because, as I already explained, all your forms are the same entity. If one form is wearing clothes, the others will be as well. The same applies to illnesses, injuries, and similar conditions… unless one of your forms possesses a special immune system or regeneration —Cero replied.

  —I see… —Velt murmured, still thinking.

  —And the forms I have… are they exactly like the creatures I got the DNA from? I mean… was the human I ate like this?

  —No —Cero answered—. This is how you would be if you had been born as that species.

  —So… this is what I’d look like if I were human —Velt said aloud.

  Suddenly, he felt a light hit on his head. When he turned around, he saw Rurhy staring at him.

  —What happened? —Velt asked.

  —I was talking to you and you didn’t respond —she said reproachfully—. We’re close to my village. If you enter our territory without warning, they’ll attack you.

  —Then what do we do? —he asked.

  —You stay here. I’ll go talk to them —Rurhy replied.

  —Alright —Velt said, sitting down under a tree—. I’ll wait.

  —Okay —Rurhy answered with a smile before disappearing deeper into the forest, where, according to her, the territory of the dark elves began.

  Once she was gone, Velt spoke aloud:

  —She’s cute… though a bit rough —he said with a smile. Then he rubbed the back of his neck—. I felt the hit, but it didn’t hurt. That’s strange…

  He remembered the stone Rurhy had thrown at him, but Cero interrupted:

  —That is due to her Painless ability.

  —Painless? —Velt asked, intrigued.

  —Painless is an ability that prevents the user from feeling physical pain of any kind. However, it does not make them immune to injuries —Cero explained.

  —So it only blocks pain… I get it —Velt said, looking up at the sky—. A lot has happened, and it’s only my second day in this world —he added with a faint smile.

  —I’ll wait for Rurhy to come back —he said as he lay down beneath the tree—. A nap wouldn’t hurt…

  Little by little, Velt drifted off to sleep.

  In a celestial place, Velt seemed to be alone… or so he thought.

  —What is this place? —he asked, looking around.

  Then he saw him: the man in the suit was there again, sitting down and reviewing papers that looked like accounts.

  —You again… —Velt said, recognizing him immediately—. What is this damn place?

  The man didn’t answer. He remained focused on the documents.

  Velt stepped closer and threw a punch, but it was repelled by an invisible barrier.

  —This crap is still here… —he muttered in frustration—. We’re inside my mind —he stated, yet once again received no response.

  —Go to hell —he growled, sitting down on the floor of that strange place.

  Then the man finally spoke:

  —Don’t you recognize this place? —he asked calmly—. You know who I am… but you don’t remember anything else —he raised his gaze—. Tell me, do you truly not remember… or do you simply not want to remember?

  —What do you mean? —Velt asked, confused.

  —You remember that you were murdered… but do you remember why?

  —Wait… —Velt tried to answer, but a loud buzzing interrupted him.

  —Time’s up. Wake up, child —the man said, adjusting himself in his chair.

  —Wait! What did you mean by that?! —Velt shouted, but there was no reply.

  —Go to hell… —he spat angrily. But just before everything faded away, the man added:

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  —Am I really the one who should go there? —he said with an ambiguous smile.

  And then everything went dark.

  When Velt opened his eyes, he found five dark elves aiming their bows at him.

  —Déjà vu… —was all he managed to say.

  The elves stared at him coldly until a voice broke the tension:

  —Stop! —someone shouted from behind them. It was Rurhy.

  —What are you doing?! He’s the one who saved me from the goblins! —she exclaimed angrily.

  The elves lowered their bows, and Rurhy approached Velt.

  —I’m sorry —she said, lowering her head—. I told them you weren’t dangerous, but they didn’t listen —she added, embarrassed.

  —It’s fine. I’m used to it —Velt replied calmly.

  Rurhy chuckled softly, understanding what he meant. However, one of the elves spoke in a reproachful tone:

  —Rurhy, don’t you think you’re getting too close to that human?

  —Shut up, Ky —she replied coldly—. He saved my life.

  —Calm down —another elf intervened, slightly older than the others. He stepped forward and bowed lightly—. Thank you for saving my daughter —he said, then looked at Velt—. You’re Velt, right? My daughter mentioned that you might be able to help us with—

  —F-father! I haven’t told him anything yet! —Rurhy interrupted quickly, blushing deeply.

  —Sorry, my child. I thought you had already told him —the elder replied with a gentle smile.

  —Told me what? —Velt interrupted, looking at both of them, confused.

  —Well, Velt… I was wondering if you could help us with— —Rurhy tried to speak, but the words wouldn’t come out. Her face showed a mix of nerves and embarrassment.

  —We don’t need help from a human —Ky interrupted again.

  —Ky, I told you to shut up! —Rurhy snapped.

  —Rurhy, what are you trying to say? —Velt asked.

  —Well… I wanted to ask if you could help us with food —she finally said, bowing her head.

  —Sorry, I don’t understand —Velt replied, frowning.

  Still confused, Velt watched as the elder suddenly knelt before him.

  —Please… help us —he pleaded.

  —Father, wait! —Rurhy said, trying to stop him.

  —I’ll give you anything if you help us. Even my daughter’s hand! —the elder blurted out in desperation.

  —F-father, stop it! —Rurhy lightly hit him, her face completely red.

  —Hold on! —Velt interrupted, raising his hands—. I don’t understand anything. Please, can you explain what’s going on?

  —You’re right, my child. Let’s invite our guest into the village —the elder suggested.

  —Y-yes, please, come —Rurhy said, still embarrassed by her father’s words.

  Velt followed them, and soon they arrived at a village made up of huts both on the ground and among the trees. Many dark elves watched him carefully. There were women, children, and even elders… but something caught Velt’s attention: there were far more homes than inhabitants, and many of those present were visibly injured.

  This doesn’t seem normal… Velt thought.

  —What do you think, Cero? —he asked mentally.

  —Judging by those wounds, they do not appear to have been caused by accidents —Cero replied.

  —Yeah, that’s what I thought. These aren’t common injuries —Velt added. Then a voice pulled him out of his thoughts:

  —Hey, Velt! Over here —Rurhy called, pointing at one of the huts.

  Velt headed there. Inside, he was invited to sit in a corner covered with soft leaves. Rurhy and her father sat across from him. The elder offered him water, which Velt accepted in a wooden container.

  —Sorry. I believe humans are used to drinking from cups, but we don’t use those —Rurhy’s father apologized.

  —Don’t worry —Velt replied with a smile, taking a sip—. Refreshing… Alright, why did you ask for my help? We don’t even know each other —he said, getting straight to the point.

  Rurhy and her father exchanged glances. The elder spoke first:

  —Rurhy told me that when you met, you used squirrels and those red things to cook something… So we wanted to ask if you could do the same with the ingredients we have in the village.

  —Cero, what do you think? —Velt asked in his mind.

  —Based on his body language and tone of voice, he is not lying. I also detect no hostility —Cero answered.

  —I see. Thanks —Velt said. Then, aloud—: So you want me to cook for you, right?

  —Y-yes, that’s correct —the elder replied nervously.

  —Hmm… I don’t want to be disrespectful, especially as a guest, but I feel like you’re not telling me the whole truth. Am I wrong? —Velt said, taking another sip of water.

  Rurhy’s father remained silent for a moment, then spoke in a subdued voice:

  —Orcs… They arrived recently and demanded food. At first, we refused, but soon we were surrounded. Half of our people were massacred —he said, his eyes glassy—. My wife… was one of those they used as an example.

  Velt looked at Rurhy, who was also struggling to hold back tears.

  —That’s why I ask you… no, I beg you! Use everything we have in the village to cook something that satisfies them so they’ll leave. An orc will come to collect the food, so… please…

  Velt fell silent, thinking.

  —Cero —he asked—, are orcs easy to defeat?

  —Orcs are a race characterized more by strength than intelligence. However, when they are in large numbers, they are extremely dangerous. They should not be underestimated —Cero replied.

  —I understand. Thanks —Velt nodded. Then he looked at the elder—. Who’s coming to collect the food?

  —An orc general… I believe he’ll come the day after tomorrow —the elder answered—. That’s why, please—

  —That’s enough —Velt interrupted firmly—. The day after tomorrow is enough time. I’ll help you, but in exchange, I want something.

  —Yes, anything. Ask for it, and it will be yours —Rurhy’s father replied without hesitation.

  —I want you to take me to the nearest human city when this is over —Velt said firmly.

  Rurhy and her father stared at him in surprise.

  —A human city? Of course, we can do that. But… don’t you come from one? —the elder asked, puzzled.

  —W-well… You see, I went so deep into the forest that I lost my sense of direction. Now I’m completely lost —Velt replied, using an excuse that was partly true—. I can’t read maps, and what little I knew, I forgot after going deeper into the forest. This works out perfectly.

  —If that’s the case, we’ll gladly take you to the nearest city when all this is over —the elder said.

  —Good. Then do we have a deal? —Velt asked.

  —Yes, we do —the elder replied with a hopeful smile.